The #Vatican Organizes International Conference on Nuclear Disarmament

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According to Catholic News Agency, the Vatican is reportedly getting ready to organize a nuclear disarmament conference this week, to support the on-going international effort calling for a ban nuclear weapons.

The conference on 10 and 11 November is hosted by the Dicastery for the Promotion of Integral Human Development, and its agenda will be aligned with Pope Francis’ mission of world peace. Participants are expected to discuss possible solutions for integral disarmament to move closer to the prospect of a world without nuclear weapons.

Among the conference speakers are Masako Wada, one of the last survivors of the Hiroshima nuclear bombing; and an assistant secretary general of Nihon Hidankyo, or the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organization.

Cardinal Peter Turkson, prefect of the dicastery, said on 7 November in a Vatican communique that the conference “responds to the priorities of Pope Francis to take action for world peace and to use the resources of creation for a sustainable development and to improve the quality of life for all, individuals and countries, without discrimination.”

The conference is expected to be attended by 11 Nobel Peace Laureates, representatives from the United Nations and NATO, diplomats from Russia, the United States, South Korea, and Iran; as well as prominent experts on nuclear armaments and weapons, and leaders of organizations engaged with nuclear disrmament.

This conference is described as “the first global gathering on Atomic Disarmament” after the passing of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons on 17 July at a United Nations conference in New York.

The passing of the treaty, however, was noted for the non-participation of 69 states with nuclear weapon capabilities, including all NATO member counties with the exception of the Netherlands. All in all, 122 UN members voted in favour, with one abstention by Singapore.

Pope Francis is scheduled to deliver the opening address 10 November, and representatives form the Vatican, including Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and the leadership of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, are scheduled to speak on behalf of the Holy See.